Here's How Much Money Graphic Designers Earn In Every State

Graphic designers earn slightly more than the U.S. average wage for all occupations.

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With the explosion of the internet and digital revolution in general, the career of a graphic designer has been given a major jolt, leading to intense competition for available jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). From 2016 to 2026, the employment of graphic designers is expected to grow 4%, adding 11,100 jobs, which is slower than the average for all occupations.

According to BLS, the mean annual wage for graphic designers in the U.S. in 2018 is $54,680. This is just a tad higher than the mean annual wage for all occupations in the U.S., $51,960.

However, not all states pay graphic designers the same salary. So, if you want to earn the most money in this field, read on for a full breakdown of where graphic designers’ incomes are the lowest, and where their incomes are the highest.

10 States Where Graphic Designers Earn the Most Money

Graphic designers in the District of Columbia earn the most money on average, with a mean annual wage of $71,180. Here’s a list of the top-10 states in order of the highest average incomes for graphic designers.

Rank

State

2018 Average Annual Wage

1

New York

$64,840

2

Massachusetts

$64,010

3

California

$61,100

4

Connecticut

$60,700

5

Virginia

$60,540

6

Washington

$60,530

7

Alaska

$59,640

8

New Jersey

$59,140

9

Rhode Island

$58,720

10

Maryland

$58,610

New York and Massachusetts take the No. 1 and No. 2 spots with average graphic designer salaries in excess of $64,000 a year. The drop-off from No. 2 to No. 3 is nearly $3,000. Geographically, the U.S. Northeast and West Coast dominate, with the former represented by five states, and the latter by three states. Maryland and Virginia lay in the U.S. South, according to the Census Bureau.

10 States Where Graphic Designers Earn the Least Money

The states that pay graphic designers the least are a mix of states in the U.S. Census-designated West North Central division (South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa), Mountain division (Wyoming, Montana, New Mexico) and South region (Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi and Kentucky)

Rank

State

2018 Average Annual Wage

50

South Dakota

$36,300

49

Wyoming

$38,490

48

Oklahoma

$40,710

47

North Dakota

$41,800

46

Montana

$42,220

45

Arkansas

$42,250

44

Mississippi

$42,640

43

Iowa

$43,920

42

New Mexico

$44,040

41

Kentucky

$44,550

How Much Graphic Designers Earn in All 50 States

Here’s a look at average graphic designer salaries by state. Each state’s overall ranking is included, and D.C. is included as well.

Rank

State

2018 Average Annual Wage

33

Alabama

$46,960

7

Alaska

$59,640

15

Arizona

$54,030

45

Arkansas

$42,250

3

California

$61,100

13

Colorado

$56,670

4

Connecticut

$60,700

20

Delaware

$50,920

District of Columbia

$71,180

27

Florida

$48,780

14

Georgia

$54,260

19

Hawaii

$51,690

38

Idaho

$45,620

11

Illinois

$56,890

40

Indiana

$45,030

43

Iowa

$43,920

34

Kansas

$46,270

41

Kentucky

$44,550

37

Louisiana

$45,660

35

Maine

$45,800

10

Maryland

$58,610

2

Massachusetts

$64,010

32

Michigan

$47,700

16

Minnesota

$53,500

44

Mississippi

$42,640

22

Missouri

$50,350

46

Montana

$42,220

30

Nebraska

$47,980

26

Nevada

$49,330

18

New Hampshire

$51,710

8

New Jersey

$59,140

42

New Mexico

$44,040

1

New York

$64,840

25

North Carolina

$49,700

47

North Dakota

$41,800

23

Ohio

$50,130

48

Oklahoma

$40,710

12

Oregon

$56,690

17

Pennsylvania

$53,050

9

Rhode Island

$58,720

36

South Carolina

$45,790

50

South Dakota

$36,300

28

Tennessee

$48,760

21

Texas

$50,700

29

Utah

$48,130

24

Vermont

$50,000

5

Virginia

$60,540

6

Washington

$60,530

39

West Virginia

$45,360

31

Wisconsin

$47,980

49

Wyoming

$38,490

Graphic designer salaries in Hawaii have seen very impressive growth from 2015 to 2018. In 2015, the average annual salary for a graphic designer was $41,670. By 2018, that had risen to $51,690, an increase of 24% in three years. Other states that have seen excellent growth in incomes from 2015 to 2018 include: